SivBum's Comments SivBum's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.com/user/176111/comments More on Dell: Revenue only fell 2% Y/Y after dropping 11% in FQ4 - Carl Icahn will notice. But gross margin -140 bps Y/Y to 20.6%; Dell was apparently willing to price more aggressively. Spending picked up: SG&A 15.7% of revenue vs. 13.9% a year ago, R&D 2.2% vs. 1.7%. Desktop sales only -2%, much better than FQ4's -14%. Notebooks -16% vs. -25%. PCs 49% of sales. Servers/networking (19% of sales) still strong, +14% vs. +18%. Storage still weak, -10% vs. -13%. Services +2%, up from -3%. 3rd-party software/peripherals -6% vs. -11%. $295M in Dell software sales (lifted by Quest). No guidance. DELL unchanged. CC at 4:45PM ET (webcast) (PR) http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/1030961?source=feed#comment-18915611 18915611 Thu, 16 May 2013 16:25:31 -0400 Market recap: Why do people listen to David Tepper? Because he's often right. His appearance on CNBC this morning to share his bullish views set the table for today's rally, led by big banks including BofA and AmEx. However, techs lagged after Apple sold off on no apparent news. Nymex crude ended below $95 as the IEA detailed a "supply shock"; gold fell to a three-week low at $1,424.50. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/1024802?source=feed#comment-18823302 18823302 Tue, 14 May 2013 16:21:28 -0400 Evidence suggests some retailers and restaurants have already started to limit staff to working 30 hours or less per week to avoid possible penalties for not offering health insurance to full-time employees, Capital Economics writes. This could explain why average weekly hours in the retail sector has fallen over the past 12 months, "while average hours worked across the private sector as a whole has been broadly unchanged." http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/1004961?source=feed#comment-18537311 18537311 Tue, 07 May 2013 11:39:55 -0400 Initial Jobless Claims: -16K to 339K vs. 350K consensus, 355K prior (revised). Continuing claims -93K to 3.00M. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/968351?source=feed#comment-18073621 18073621 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:23:41 -0400 Marvell (MRVL +3.6%) rallies after announcing a solution for remotely controllable LED bulbs that includes a new AC/DC controller/wireless microcontroller SoC (it can work with either the ZigBee protocol,  or a combo of ZigBee and Wi-Fi). Marvell, which has been aggressively pushing into the LED controller/driver chip space, claims its solution uses half as many chips as alternatives. The announcement comes a week after Marvell announced Samsung will use one of its LED driver ICs in a new line of bulbs. Cirrus Logic (CRUS) also has lofty ambitions in this space. (Marvell/Sharp demo) http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/957431?source=feed#comment-17942101 17942101 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:42:23 -0400 Mar. Existing Home Sales: 4.92M vs. consensus 5.03M, 4.95M previous (revised). http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/956581?source=feed#comment-17930511 17930511 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:15:49 -0400 "The best run company in the industry" whose "run could be far from over," Jim Cramer says of Kinder Morgan Partners (KMP +0.9%). The main reasons he likes the MLP: It has little exposure to fluctuations in the spot price of commodities; it's "a fabulous business to be in" to benefit from newly discovered U.S. oil and gas deposits; and the 5% yield is more than triple the return from 10-year Treasurys. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/955151?source=feed#comment-17847331 17847331 Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:58:26 -0400 Stocks continue to slide with the Fed's Bullard's suggesting the bank's QE program could be expanded having little effect. Leading the slump are Apple, -4.5% and threatening a "3" handle, and Bank of America -4.4% after missing earnings estimates. S&P 500 -1.6%, Nasdaq -2%. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/948491?source=feed#comment-17737551 17737551 Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:37:16 -0400 Is Apple (AAPL -1.7%) starting to see a brain drain in the post-Jobs era? "There is a growing level of dissatisfaction among Apple executives and employees, and a greater willingness to explore leaving," one VC tells BI. Another says his firm is seeing a lot more resumes from Apple employees, and attributes this both to the impact leadership changes have had on Apple's culture, and the higher pay offered by startups. A month ago, John Gruber warned Apple is at risk of losing top talent, and called it "the single biggest problem that Apple faces." http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/943291?source=feed#comment-17653301 17653301 Mon, 15 Apr 2013 13:57:14 -0400 Maybe it’s no coincidence gold’s massive selloff is taking place on the same day U.S. tax returns are due, Marketfield's Michael Shaoul surmises, pointing to the need to raise cash to pay substantial capital gains due at tax filing. If sellers waited until the last day, it might have sparked selling pressure to plunge through key support at $1520; at that point, "a substantial wave of panicky selling was always likely to take place." http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/943041?source=feed#comment-17646881 17646881 Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:59:07 -0400 Though Lenovo (LNVGY.PK) hasn't been unscathed by plunging PC sales, it's definitely faring better than H-P (HPQ) and Dell (DELL). Whereas IDC estimates H-P and Dell's global Q1 PC shipments respectively fell 24% and 11% Y/Y, it thinks Lenovo's shipments were roughly flat at 11.7M, as a 210 bps share gain offset a 14.9% industry shipment drop. The reasons for Lenovo's success: a strong focus on emerging markets, a willingness to sacrifice margins to gain share, and an ability to cut costs by vertically integrating some component production and assembly work. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/940691?source=feed#comment-17551371 17551371 Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:03:56 -0400 On the hour: Dow -0.11%. 10-yr +0.27%. Euro -0.61% vs. dollar. Crude -1.73% to $92.48. Gold +0.33% to $1609.9. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/935691?source=feed#comment-17448181 17448181 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:03:25 -0400 Caterpillar (CAT -0.5%) will layoff 11% of its workforce at a Decatur, Illinois factory. The company said the move to eliminate 460 jobs is necessary "to bring production in line" with softening demand for mining equipment. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/928961?source=feed#comment-17280351 17280351
Pay Exercised
Mr. Douglas R. Oberhelman , 60
Chairman and Chief Exec. Officer 6.51M 3.52M]]> Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:37:50 -0400
Pay Exercised
Mr. Douglas R. Oberhelman , 60
Chairman and Chief Exec. Officer 6.51M 3.52M]]> H-P's (HPQ -1.2%) appointment of Ralph Whitworth as interim chairman in tandem with Ray Lane's resignation "points [to] a more fiscally conservative and shareholder friendly board as the debt burden ebbs," Credit Suisse declares. Others see Lane's resignation giving Meg Whitman more freedom to remake H-P - the fact the company plans to replace Lane (an executive chairman) with a non-executive chairman can't hurt on this count. In a blog post, Whitworth says H-P plans to recruit two new directors by year's end, in addition to "a world-class chairman." http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/928321?source=feed#comment-17267881 17267881 Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:46:28 -0400 "What if an epoch changes," asks Bill Gross, suggesting investors should be judged on their ability to profit over a far longer time frame than just a couple of decades. His point: Greats like Soros, Buffett, Fuss, (and himself) have benefitted from investing "during perhaps the most advantageous period of time ... an investor could ever experience ... What if perpetual credit expansion and its fertilization of asset prices and returns are substantially altered?" http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/922911?source=feed#comment-17158121 17158121 Wed, 03 Apr 2013 09:18:55 -0400 Yongye (YONG): Q4 EPS of $0.34. Revenue of $71.3M (+58.9% Y/Y). (PR) http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/918781?source=feed#comment-17085681 17085681 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:21:51 -0400 Cisco (CSCO +1%) continues to look overseas for M&A targets: the company discloses it has bought SolveDirect, an Austrian provider of cloud-based software for integrating IT services. Cisco, which is looking to both software and services for growth, talks up SolveDirect's ability to automate service integration, and says its offerings will bolster its IT service portfolio. John Chambers recently stated Cisco will continue acquiring overseas until it can repatriate offshore cash at a lower tax rate. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/908081?source=feed#comment-16780591 16780591 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:06:36 -0400 Caterpillar's (CAT -1.5%) retail sales of machines -13% Y/Y in three months to February vs -12% in three months to January, with AsiaPacific -26% in Dec-Feb, North America -12%, EMEA -9%, Latin America +3%. Power Systems sales -7% in February period, as in January period; electric power -8%, industrial -25%, transport +15%, petroleum -8%. (PR) http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/899301?source=feed#comment-16542241 16542241 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 10:05:37 -0400 February Retail Sales Show Strongest Gain In 5 Months; Now What? http://seekingalpha.com/article/1269991/comments?source=feed#comment-16229181 16229181 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:54:37 -0400 Diamond Foods (DMND) saw some strength with its Kettle and Pop Secret brands during its FQ2 but saw its nuts business fall a disappointing 30% Y/Y. Though accounting adjustments are in the rear-view mirror, the company says walnut supply problems are now an issue. DMND -6.5% premarket. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/882331?source=feed#comment-16172221 16172221 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:26:01 -0400 Vivus (VVUS -2.5%) slides on concerns that it may be lowering the price of Qsymia just months after commercial marketing began. Bloomberg's Andrew Berens says the company will start offering 30-days of medium-dose Qsymia for maximum out-of-pocket cost of $75, which is 70% below the current price. The move could pose risks for Arena's (ARNA -4.4%) Belviq, which is a competitor to Qsymia. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/865001?source=feed#comment-15799881 15799881
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., March 4, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VIVUS, Inc. (VVUS:$10.04,00$-0.30,... today announced that management will present an overview of the company at three investment conferences during the month of March 2013.

The conference presentation schedule is as follows:

Cowen and Company 33rd Annual Health Care Conference
March 5, 2013, 8:00am EST
Boston Marriott Copley Place
Boston, MA ]]> Mon, 04 Mar 2013 10:47:10 -0500
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., March 4, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VIVUS, Inc. (VVUS:$10.04,00$-0.30,... today announced that management will present an overview of the company at three investment conferences during the month of March 2013.

The conference presentation schedule is as follows:

Cowen and Company 33rd Annual Health Care Conference
March 5, 2013, 8:00am EST
Boston Marriott Copley Place
Boston, MA ]]> Apple's (AAPL -2.3%) award in the Samsung (SSNLF.PK) patent infringement case has been reduced to $598.9M from $1.05B, reports the WSJ. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/863061?source=feed#comment-15705281 15705281 Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:50:37 -0500 American Capital Agency (AGNC -3.5%) prices its 50M share secondary at what appears to be $31.60/share for gross proceeds of $1.5B. Underwriters have the option to purchase another 7.5M shares. The float was 338M shares prior to the offering. Book value as of Dec. 31 was $31.64. (PR) http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/859161?source=feed#comment-15632641 15632641 Thu, 28 Feb 2013 10:52:44 -0500 JPMorgan's Tom Lee - who turned bearish early this year before turning bullish by January's end - turns bearish again, seeing no catalyst for further gains, but plenty of "vulnerability" to downside surprises. Better entry points for new money, he says, will be found later in H1. Where can we apply for this job? http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/846481?source=feed#comment-15369631 15369631 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 11:12:54 -0500 California Sales Tax Receipts Show Sales Tax Collection Impact http://seekingalpha.com/article/1207531/comments?source=feed#comment-15286461 15286461 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 20:52:33 -0500 CNBC automobile industry reporter Phil LeBeau acknowledges unanswered questions on the ability of the Tesla Motors (TSLA -1.4%) Model S to ever be a mass market vehicles exist, but comes back from a test drive thoroughly impressed by the car and sees the possibility of it being a game changer. LeBeau on the Model S: "I am convinced that this car is proof a solely electric car can and ultimately will gain acceptance by American drivers." http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/839021?source=feed#comment-15268241 15268241
Yes, by then, hopefully the batteries would be cheaper and more charge stations on the road. Hope made in America will prosper by then.]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:40:39 -0500
Yes, by then, hopefully the batteries would be cheaper and more charge stations on the road. Hope made in America will prosper by then.]]> CNBC automobile industry reporter Phil LeBeau acknowledges unanswered questions on the ability of the Tesla Motors (TSLA -1.4%) Model S to ever be a mass market vehicles exist, but comes back from a test drive thoroughly impressed by the car and sees the possibility of it being a game changer. LeBeau on the Model S: "I am convinced that this car is proof a solely electric car can and ultimately will gain acceptance by American drivers." http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/839021?source=feed#comment-15261211 15261211 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 12:28:54 -0500 Initial Jobless Claims: -27K to 341K vs. 360K consensus, 368K prior (revised). Continuing claims -130K to 3.11M. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/827931?source=feed#comment-14978031 14978031 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 08:55:40 -0500 Netflix: A Glass Half Empty http://seekingalpha.com/article/1178131/comments?source=feed#comment-14936761 14936761 Wed, 13 Feb 2013 12:01:24 -0500 Under the radar: Google's lightning-fast fiber service in Kansas City might be putting pressure on cable operators to cut broadband pricing, according to reports. Customers in the region are seeing unexplained price breaks timed just as Google Fiber went live. Though its only one mid-size market, and Google's plans for a larger rollout are far from clear, the issue is giving cable companies something to think about. http://seekingalpha.com/currents/post/808801?source=feed#comment-14659481 14659481 Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:45:56 -0500